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Origin and history

The chapel Notre-Dame de Benva, also called Notre-Dame de Belval or des Salettes, is a Catholic chapel built in the 15th century (1458) in Lorgues, in the Var, on a secondary road on the road to Compostela. Its Provençal name "Ben vai" ("Bon voyage") evokes its protective role for travellers. According to legend, it was founded in thanksgiving for the disappearance of a ferocious beast terrorizing the region. The chapel, dedicated to the Annunciation, houses exceptional frescoes from the early 1510s, depicting Purgatory, Paradise and biblical scenes, attributed to a Piedmontese traveling painter or Hans Clemer.

Ranked a historic monument in 1929, the chapel underwent several restorations, notably in 1931, 1958, 1984 and 1990-1995, under the impetus of the association Friends of Saint-Ferréol and the Old Lorgues and the commune. Its original bell of 1655, melted during the Revolution, was replaced in 1840. In 1988, grids were laid to protect frescoes from vandalism. Between 2013 and 2016, a major restoration focused on the structure, roof and bell tower, partly funded by DRAC.

The frescoes, studied in 1870 by Abbé Bérard, illustrate intense local devotion. Under the porch is the Annunciation, Saint Martin and Saint Bernard, while inside the Purgatory shows angels offering refreshments to souls. The last judgment and Hell, partially erased, allow Saint Michael to remain terrorizing the demon. These works, among the rare medieval representations of Purgatory in Provence, bear witness to a religious art marked by alpine influences and eschatological beliefs of the time.

Until 1942, a path under the porch connected Lorgues to Entrecasteaux. The chapel, a communal property, remains an active heritage site, linked to local legends and the history of pilgrimages. Its baroque altarpiece and painting of the Annunciation, restored in 1989, complete a remarkable artistic ensemble, reflecting piety and medieval Provençal art.

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